Shooting with a camera on an African safari

Dina Cashman

Published 4:55 pm, Thursday, June 20, 2013

Debbie Gilbert, a Stratford artist, took her passion to the next level last March with a trip to South Africa to photograph the vivid, sloping landscapes, wildlife and people, which led to the exhibit, "I Dreamt of Africa," at the Stratford Library, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show continues until Saturday, June 29.

One of Gilbert's fascinations on her safari was the beauty and brilliance of the black-and-white striped animals. "Every time I saw a zebra, I was just like huh -- you know, sharp intake of breath -- I think they are magnificent animals."

Gilbert enjoyed taking pictures of animals that were looking straight at the camera. "It's almost like a conversation, when they are looking at the camera rather than a candid, and I think it draws you in more, personally," she said.

Gilbert said seeing the animals in their natural habitat rather than in captivity was as if she'd never seen them before and was seeing them in a whole new light.

Another artistic shot Gilbert took was of an umbrella thorn tree with a landscape background. Gilbert said she decided to photograph this particular, windy tree because it was native to the area she was in.

"I really like the way the juxtaposition of the land and clouds and all of the lines in the picture came together," she said.

Gilbert said she shoots a lot of pictures, but to narrow it down, she picks a certain theme first.